The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve is the newest resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Located across the street from the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, the Swan Reserve promises “a refined yet tranquil oasis near the attractions and theme parks of Walt Disney World.” We stayed at the Swan Reserve at the beginning of December, just a month after the grand opening of the resort and tried out a couple of the restaurants. Read on to see what our thoughts were on the Swan Reserve at Walt Disney World.
The Swan Reserve opened at the beginning of November 2021 and joins its fellow Marriott properties located on Disney property, the Swan and Dolphin Resorts. The Swan and Dolphin were opened in the early 1990’s and have continued to be a destination for conference goers as well as families traveling to Walt Disney World and surrounding attractions. All three resorts are Marriott Autograph Collection resorts.
The average cost per night is currently between $400 and $500. Parking is not included and is $29 per day.
Swan Reserve – Guest Rooms
We checked into the Swan Reserve on a Thursday afternoon in December, paying a little over $400 for a Traditional room with no specific view. Our room was on the 6th floor and included a spacious living area, bathroom, with separate water closet and bedroom with a king bed. The living area had a large dining table, microwave, coffee machine, refrigerator, couch, two smart TVs and a view of the Swan and Dolphin. While we did not ask for a specific view, I think we lucked out. We were able to view “Harmonious,” EPCOT’s newest fireworks show from our room that evening, which was quite a treat!
The bedroom included a king sized bed, desk, closets and a smart TV. There were also ample outlets which is always nice not having to fight to charge your phone!
We were impressed with the guest rooms, especially when comparing them to those in the Swan and Dolphin. They were large, had areas for relaxing, eating and sleeping and were kept very clean. You can view a full room tour here.
Swan Reserve – Restaurants
The Swan Reserve has several restaurants at the hotel and guests have access to the 18 restaurants located across the three Marriott properties. We grabbed a coffee at Grounds, the grab n’ go cafe that is located on the second floor. Grounds has a lot of options for a quick meals and offers a few fresh items as well.
For dinner, we tried out Amare Restaurant, the full-service dining option at the Swan Reserve. Amare Restaurant offers a Mediterranean menu that includes seafood dishes, chicken, steak, flatbreads, and more. The menu was smaller than we expected and was a bit on the pricey side. We had the chicken and a magherita flatbread . Overall, the food was good, but it probably isn’t one we’ll run back to. If you are interested in trying out Amare Restaurant, you can make reservations on the My Disney Experience app as well as through OpenTable. Restaurant Amare serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Swan Reserve also includes a bar in the lobby as well as a pool side bar. We didn’t get a chance to check them out, but we will definitely be back!
Swan Reserve – Amenities
One of the best parts about staying at the Swan Reserve is the amenities. Not only do you have access to the pool, health club (including Peloton bikes) and dining at the Swan Reserve, but you also are able to take advantage of everything available to Swan and Dolphin Resort guests. That includes additional pools, restaurants, shopping, health clubs, the Mandara Spa, and even Swan boat rental. To access the Swan and Dolphin, you will have to walk across the street that separates the resorts.
If you’re staying at the Swan Reserve during a Walt Disney World vacation, you will be happy to hear that you receive complimentary transportation to all of the Disney Parks. EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios can be accessed by boat or walking. The boat launch is located between the Swan and Dolphin, so you will need to walk across the street to the Swan and Dolphin and then walk to the boat launch. You can also walk to both EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We walked to Hollywood Studios and it took about 25 minutes. If you have little ones, you may want to opt for the boat, but be aware that the boat also services Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. The trip is about 25 minutes as well.
Complimentary shuttle service is available to Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The bus stop is located on the left side of the resort and leaves every 20 to 30 minutes.
One of the biggest perks of staying at the Swan Reserve? You will receive many of the benefits that Disney Deluxe Resort guests receive. Including:
- Early park access (30 minutes before non-resort guests)
- Access to Extended Evening Theme Park Hours (Mondays – EPCOT; Wednesdays – Magic Kingdom; additional hours in the parks only available to Deluxe Resort guests)
- Able to make Genie+ and Individual Lighting Lane Selections at 7 AM
We would definitely recommend the Swan Reserve, especially if you are looking for a place to relax in the room within walking distance of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you are interested in booking a Walt Disney World vacation, let me help you out! As a Travel Agent who is certified to plan Disney vacations, I can help you plan the most magical vacation!
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